Press Release - Robin: MSU 'Terrorist' Attack Never a Matter of Religion

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCKR1URffBA

The dastardly bombing at the Mindanao State University (MSU) on Sunday was a terrorist attack and never a matter of religion, Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla said Monday.

Padilla, in his manifestation at the Senate plenary, scored insinuations - including those posted on social media - claiming that Sunday's tragedy was a clash between Christianity and Islam.

"Ang gusto ko lamang po huling sabihin mga mahal kong kasama ang pasasalamat sa inyong lahat na inyong niliwanag na wala pong kinalaman ang Islam dito. Ito po ay mga terorista at kailanman hindi po sila ang representation ng mga Muslim (I want to thank my colleagues for stressing that Islam has nothing to do with the attack. What happened was the work of terrorists who do not represent Muslims)," he said.

"Hindi po ito kailanman matatanggap ng mga Muslim na ito po ay kasama sa aming pananampalataya dahil malinaw po sa Koran na sinasabi, ang pumatay ka ng taong walang kasalanan ay para mo nang pinatay mo ang buong daigdig (Muslims will never accept violence as part of their faith. The Koran is clear - that if you kill an innocent person, you are killing humanity)," he added.

But he also pointed out the need to protect civilians, especially the youth, from the "foreign ideology" promoting terrorism. He said some who were killed in a recent encounter in Cotabato were misled by such ideologies.

Padilla reiterated the need for the Marawi Compensation Board and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) to make sure victims of the 2017 Marawi Siege as well as rebel returnees receive the aid promised by the government, so they will not be swayed by foreign extremists.

"Dayuhan po ito, hindi ito Pilipino, hindi ito Bangsamoro. Dayuhang ideology na nakarating sa Pilipinas (This is a foreign ideology. This is not a Filipino or Bangsamoro ideology but a foreign one)," he said.

He also pushed for support for the military to intensify its intelligence operations against the foreign terrorists. "Lalo po nating palakasin ang ating suporta sa ating military sa intelligence upang lalong igtingin nila ang operasyon laban dito sa mga